When he was eight, the family moved to Western Australia and he commenced his football career in 1904 playing in the Perth "first rate junior" league with Claremont (not the current WAFL club) before joining North Fremantle Football Club at the start of the 1905 WAFL season.
[2] After two years with North Fremantle he joined Mines Rovers[3] in the Goldfields Football Association where he established himself as a leading player over four seasons with the club.
[5] After appearing in the opening two rounds of the 1913 VFL season, Toohey left Fitzroy to coach Stawell.
He returned in round seven and was a half forward flanker in Fitzroy's premiership team that year.
He also played in their losing 1917 VFL Grand Final side, as a centre half back.